Turkish Match-Fixing Trial gets under way, as nearly 100 suspects are facing judges in the first hearing on match-fixing related criminal charges at a Turkish Heavy Criminal Court near Istanbul.

Istanbul / NationalTurk – Fenerbahce boss Aziz Yildirim and 92 other soccer club officials, coaches, managers and players have been scheduled to go on trial on February 14 that involve eight Turkish clubs, including Europa League participants Besiktas and Trabzonspor. The club in the epicentre of it all is Fenerbahce Istanbul and its chairman Aziz Yıldırım.

The match fixing scandal has rocked Turkey since it has emerged on July 3rd and is believed to have affected 19 matches, including last season’s Fenerbahce 4-3 victory over Sivasspor which saw the club clinch the league championship on the final day of schedule. The Champions League has since barred Fenerbahce from participating in its competition because of the match-fixing scandal and Fenerbahce president Aziz Yıldırım is the # 1 suspect in the match fixing, manipulation of match results and forging an orginized crime gang.

Turkey Match Fixing Trial : Fenerbahce fans support accused chairman Aziz Yıldırım

Hundreds of Fenerbahce fans protested outside the courthouse, shouting slogans to support their club’s reputation and president.’The government might collapse, inflation might go down, but Fenerbahce can never [go down] be relegated,’the hooligans chanted.

Security has been stepped up for the trial with large numbers of police keeping watch over rampant Fenerbahce fans. ‘ Our name has been covered in mud but we are going to wipe it clean.’ heard the general motto of Fener fans. TFF is represented by 2 attorneys.

The Istanbul club won the Turkish league title last year but were kicked out from the European Champions League because of the alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that rocked Turkish Football.

Defended by 8 attorneys, Yıldırım claims his monthly salary is 13000 Euros !

Fenerbahce president Aziz Yıldırım defended by 8 attorneys and all other accused were asked about their monthly salaries at the beginning of the hearing, merely a procedural process for identification of the suspects. Aziz Yıldırım revealed his montly income was 30000 Turkish Liras, an amount far less than the average among the trial suspects.

Aziz Yıldırım made a request for the summarization of the indictment, which was denied by the court. The indictment of the match fixing case is being read right now.

Follow us for last minute news on Turkish Match – Fixing trial.

[adrotate banner=”33″]